Our People

Katherine White

Katherine White, PhD joined the Psychology Department at the University of Waterloo in 2010, after completing her PhD in Cognitive Science at Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island, USA) and postdoctoral research in the department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester (Rochester, New York, USA). She studies the earliest stages of language development in infants and toddlers.

Graduate Students

Emily Shiu

Emily completed both her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology with a Japanese Certificate I and her Masters of Applied Science (MASc) in Development and Communication Science at the University of Waterloo. She is currently in the PhD program at Waterloo. Her research interests include adult bilingualism, particularly how external cues or contexts may affect a bilingual's language processing.

Ashley Avarino

Ashley completed her Bachelor of Science Honours (BSc) at McMaster University in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, and recently graduated from the Master of Applied Science (MASc) program at the University of Waterloo. Currently, she is completing her PhD. Her research interests include: audiovisual speech perception, the influence of social factors on language learning, and children’s language-based inferences about people. Some of her favourite things are: Harry Potter, her dog Gigi, summer time, and travelling the world with friends and family!

Leanne Varey

Leanne completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology at the University of Guelph, and her Master of Arts (MA) in Developmental Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is currently completing her PhD part-time at the University of Waterloo, and her research interests include (1) the early language environment of infants and toddlers (specifically, in naturalistic settings), and (2) the potential impact of siblings on aspects of language development.                              

Leanne enjoys working as a staff member on a Graduate team at the University of Waterloo, going to the cottage in the summer, and spending time with her family and two little girls.

Alexandra Anacleto

Alexandra is an MA student, co-supervised by Dr. Katherine White in LIDL and Roxane Itier in Cognitive Neuroscience. She is currently studying self-referential memory.

Brian Kim

Brian is a first year MA student co-supervised by Dr. Katherine White in LIDL and Dr. Myra Fernandes, in Cognitive Neuroscience. His research focuses on memory and second language learning throughout the lifespan.

Madeline Wiseman

Madeline completed her Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in psychology at the University of New Brunswick, and her Master of Applied Science in Developmental and Communication Science at the University of Waterloo. She is currently doing her PhD. Her main research interests pertain to the socio-cognitive aspects of children’s word learning and speech processing. Particularly, what skills support their learning, and how their learning is affected by their social perceptions. In her free time, Madeline enjoys spending time with her partner and their cat Cannoli, as well as singing, drawing, baking, and rewatching her favourite childhood movies.

Ana Ljujic

Ana holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Waterloo. She conducted her thesis under the guidance of Dr. Katherine White and is now an MASc student in Developmental and Communication Science. Ana’s future aspirations include pursuing further graduate studies in developmental psychology with a focus on researching how bilingual and monolingual children talk to different people.

Greg Shaikevich 

Greg completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Honours Psychology at the University of Waterloo and is currently an MA student under the co-supervision of Drs. Jonathan Fugelsang and Katherine White. He has been involved in research in judgment and decision making, language development, gambling/gaming addiction, and psychophysiology.

Lab Coordinators

Katie Martin

Katie recently completed a Bachelor of Knowledge Integration degree (Joint Honours Psychology) here at the University of Waterloo. She is now working as a lab coordinator for the Infant and Child Studies Group. She is interested in how children learn language differently than adults and how individuals may use language differently depending on their environment. When not in the lab she is busy spending time playing sports, camping or reading!

Honours Thesis Students

Mariam Mazen

Mariam is in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Science in Honours Psychology, doing an honours thesis in the lab. Mariam is interested in how perceptions of others are influenced by their language and cultural backgrounds.

Cheyenne Salazar

Cheyenne is in her fifth year of an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Research Intensive Specialization. She is working on her honours thesis in the lab, focusing on how children treat speech errors from speakers with different kinds of accents. In the future, she wishes to pursue graduate studies in developmental and clinical psychology.

Directed Studies Students

Brooke Johnston

Brooke is a third year Honours Arts Psychology student minoring in Digital Arts Communication. She is currently a research assistant in the lab helping with LIDL and CORAL studies. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar and paddle boarding.

Olivia Eagles

Research Assistants

Joanna Xiong

Joanna recently completed a Bachelor of Science in Honours Psychology with a minor in Biology at the University of Waterloo. She is interested in exploring the cognitive processes underlying language learning in young children. As an RA, Joanna mainly helps out with the VA Repair study. In the future, she plans to pursue graduate school in developmental psychology and education. Outside of the lab, Joanna enjoys long walks with her dog, exploring natural science museums, and cross-stitching!

Joey Ou

Joey is a fourth-year Honours Arts (BA) Psychology minoring in Social Development Studies with a Research-Intensive Specialization. She is currently in the lab as a research assistant, mainly helping with the LENA studies and CORAL online testing. Here at the University of Waterloo, she is also involved with volunteering at the Early Childhood Education Centre. In the future, she wishes to pursue a career in developmental psychology and education. Outside of the lab, she enjoys crocheting, doing yoga, and solving puzzles. 

Emily Caron

Emily recently completed her BSc Honours in Health Science at the University of Waterloo and hopes to return to pursue a MASc in Psychology for Developmental and Communication Science next fall. Outside of the lab she enjoys reading, doing pilates and spending time with her nieces and nephew.

Suevin Un

Visiting Students

Natália Costa

Natália is an undergraduate psychology student from Brazil. Natália completed a semester abroad with the lab in 2021 and has continued to be involved since. She is broadly interested in language acquisition and plans to pursue a Master's degree to study child development.

Alumni

Post Doc Students

Amélie Bernard 

Graduate Students

Anita Abeyesekera (MASc student)

Nasim Ahmadpour (MASc student/Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Rachel Benninger (MASc student/Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Eryn Bonney-Brookman (MA student)

Dana Bernier (PhD Student)

Jacky Chen (MASc Student)

Shaneene Heupel (Independent Study/MA Student)

Irisa Hu (MASc Student)

Jessica Huang (MASc; NSERC USRA)

Erin Kim (MASc Student/Lab Coordinator)

Dominique Louer (MASc Student)

Alex Rett (MASc Student/NSERC USRA Student)

Jillian Rioux (MASc Student)

Robin Rosentrer (MASc student)

Ragini Suresh (MASc Student/Lab Coordinator/Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Drew Weatherhead (PhD Student)

Torin Young (MA student)

Lab Coordinators

Ashley Blayney-Hoffer (Lab Coordinator)

Sarah Doyle (Lab Coordinator)

Joel Le Forestier (Lab Coordinator)

Emily McIntosh (Lab Coordinator)

Melissa Nikkel (Lab Coordinator)

Shaquille Sealy (Lab Coordinator)

Jen Smith (Lab Coordinator; NSERC USRA)

Natalie Szerwinski (Lab Coordinator; NSERC USRA)

Annika Voss (Lab Coordinator/NSERC USRA Student)

Honours Students

Celine Chui (Honours Student)

Taylor Columbus (Honours Student)

Olivia Daub (Honours Student/NSERC USRA Student)

Carry Derome (Honours Student)

Sam Faulker (Honours Student)

Alex Heap (Honours Student)

Shirley He (Honours Student/NSERC USRA Student)

Nicole Ho (Honours Student/Research Assistant)

Richard Holmes (Honours Student/Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Gloria Ip (Honours Student/Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Vibhuti Jethava (Honours Student)

Erik Johnson (Honours Student)

Spencer Kramer (Honours Student)

Mary Krupicz (Honours Student)

Phoebe Liang (Honours Student)

Ana Ljujic (Honours Student)

Zack Miller (Honours Student/Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Kate McCrimmon (Honours Student)

AJ Orena (Honours Student/NSERC USRA Student/Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Sneha Patel (Honours Student)

Jingeli Ren (Honours Student)

Taylor Riemersma (Honours Student/NSERC USRA Student)

Katelyn Rowe (Honours Student/NSERC USRA Student)

Bronte Smith (Honours Student)

Janey Tso (Honours Student)

Tim Woerle (Honours Student/Undergraduate Research Assistant)

NSERC USRA Students

Kas Woodland (NSERC USRA Student/Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Madeline Crichton (NSERC USRA Student)

Jennifer Smith (NSERC USRA Student/Lab Coordinator)

Independent Study Students

Rachel Thorburn (Independent Study/Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Elaina Bentz (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Roshni Bhat (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Riley Brennan (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Laura Brooks (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Heather Bunnett-Jones (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Katelyn Burden (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Kyra Cahill (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Ena Cho (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Madeline Crichton (NSERC USRA)

Dana Darjazini (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Linda Di (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Jenna Denomme (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Gurleen Dulay (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Rebecca Joy Dunk (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Ivanna Ennett (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Shanan Floto (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Olivia Halley (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Rachael Linda Hamm (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Emil Harvey (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Mackenzie Hayden (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Maya Karmakar-Johnson (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Yasaman Keshavarz (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Justin Leung (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Amy Liang (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Anielle Lim (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Kate McLeod (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Katie Nielsen (Undegraduate Research Assistant) 

Surabhi Pal (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Austin Penner (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Laura Rance (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Amy Ro (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Catherine Rocha (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Kaitlyn Rota (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Amelia Rutledge (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Kavita Schaffer (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Ashley Shilliday (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Anum Syeda  (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Ayah Taji (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Kristen Thompson (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Mackenzie Vallee (NSERC USRA)

Giulia Vintila (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Annika Voss (NSERC USRA)

Chloe Whitham (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Kasondra Woodland (NSERC USRA)

Amy Xu (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Grace Yang (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Rachel Yee (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Sophie Yung (Undergraduate Research Assistant)

Peiyao Zhang (Undergraduate Research Assistant)